Enter to open, tab to navigate, enter to select
Senior Executive Service (SES)
Practical Law Glossary Item 0-585-9246 (Approx. 3 pages)
Glossary
Senior Executive Service (SES)
The corps of senior executives that manage federal agencies under the leadership of presidential appointees. SES employees are not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate but occupy the agency leadership positions just below presidential appointees. SES employees generally:
- Direct the work of an organizational unit.
- Are held accountable for the success of specific programs or projects.
- Monitor progress toward agency goals and evaluate or adjust those goals.
- Supervise the work of agency employees.
- Exercise policy-making, policy-determining, or other executive functions.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issues guidelines on SES qualifications and allocates a specific number of executive positions to each agency. With OPM's guidance, an agency determines which positions should be included in the SES. For more information about the SES and OPM's role in overseeing federal executive personnel, see OPM's Guide to the Senior Executive Service.